Elasticized Button Cover for Children

ABSTRACT

What is provided in this invention is a detachable, molded, flexible button cover for children&#39;s apparel that is functional, decorative, safe and easy to use. A molded cap fabricated in a flexible material such as rubber, plastic, or other suitable material has a substantially flat surface on the front side to which a decorative component is molded or otherwise affixed. The back side of the button cover consists of an inwardly turned wall that extends around the outer edge of the front of the cap and forms a hollow cavity on the back side to retain and hold a button inserted into it.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,494, issuedMar. 14, 2000, by Duke, included by reference herein.

The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 5,621,951, issuedApr. 22, 1997, by Gould, included by reference herein.

The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,285, issuedNov. 10, 1992, by Jerijan, included by reference herein.

The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 4,439,731 i, issuedSep. 26, 1967, by Torrini, included by reference herein.

The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 3,343,230, issuedSep. 26, 1967, by Darvie, included by reference herein.

The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 2,577,723, issuedDec. 4, 1951, by Groh, included by reference herein.

The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 3,934,313, issuedJan. 27, 1976, by Hocq, included by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to button covers in general and, moreparticularly, to button covers for children's clothing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Children love to express their individuality by personalizing theirclothing. They do this in a variety of ways including affixing patches,painting on designs, adding beads, ripping or fraying the fabric, addingdecorations, and many other inventive techniques. However, currently,other than removing existing buttons and sewing on new ones, there arefew options to change buttons. In addition, current button covers arenot designed for children to easily use.

Prior art discloses devices for covering buttons that utilize in oneform or another a two part metal button cover. One part of the buttoncover is a metal cup and the other part is a hinged metal back platedesigned to secure the device to the button to be covered. There areseveral problems pertaining to children using existing metal buttoncovers. One problem is that they are difficult for young children to puton and take off. In addition, the metal components present a risk of achild cutting himself or herself on an exposed edge of the hinge. Also,after repeated use, the hinged back plate of the button cover becomesbent out of shape and therefore less secure.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,494 issued Mar. 14, 2000, to Duke, discloses abutton cover comprising two metal parts, a base for attachment to agarment, and a cover removably coupled to said base.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,621,951, issued Apr. 22, 1997 to Gould, discloses aDevice for Covering and Concealing Buttons. This device is constructedof two metal parts also, a cup member and a hinged back plate with akeyhole shaped slit designed to better secure the button cover onto thebutton as compared with previous button covers. The back plate of thisinvention has two prongs that are received in frictional engagement inco-operating recesses in the main body and are designed to keep thebutton cover closed, and thus in place on a button.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,285 issued Nov. 10, 1992 to Jerjian discloses ametal button cover that addresses safety issues related to inadvertentloss of the button cover during use. This device is also constructed oftwo metal components, a cup member and a hinged closure plate. Onesafety feature designs the direction of opening and closing of thebutton cover to be transverse to the direction of insertion about thebutton during use. While this added security is an enhancement of priorart, it still utilizes a hinged back plate that can become bent out ofshape with repeated use.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,439,731 issued Sept. 10, 1985 to Torrini, discloses abutton cover for use with a shirt cuff button. This button cover isformed in two metal parts, a button-covering member and abutton-engaging member pivotally connected to one another.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,343,230 issued Sept. 26, 1967 to Darvie discloses adecorative covering part for a clothing button, a shirt cuff or blousecuff button, or an ornamental element. This device comprises two parts,a base with a wall, and a forked member to engage a shirt or cuff buttonwhen the button is in a closed position.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,577,723, issued Dec. 4, 1951 to Groh discloses adetachable button cover comprising two parts also, a cover portion and aspring plate member.

It is an object of this invention to provide a detachable button coverfor children's apparel that is both functional and decorative.

It is another object of this invention to provide a detachable buttoncover for children's apparel that is safe for children to use.

It is another object of this invention to provide a button cover forchildren's apparel that is easy to put on and take off.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided adetachable, flexible, decorative button cover for children's apparelthat is both functional and easy to use. The button cover consists of around, molded, flexible cap that fits snugly over a button and has adecorative component molded onto or otherwise affixed to it. The frontside of the cap is substantially flat so that a decorative component canbe molded on or otherwise affixed to it; the back side has an inwardlyturned wall that extends from the outer edge of the front of the cap andturns under it in such a way that a hollow cavity to securely encase andhold the button to be covered is formed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained byreference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunctionwith the subsequent, detailed description, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a button cover cap;

FIG. 2 is a back view of a button cover cap;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a buton cover cap;

FIG. 4 is a dissassembled view of a button cover;

FIG. 5 is an assembled view of a button cover;

FIG. 6 is a back view of an alternate configuration of the wall;

FIG. 7 is a dissassembled view of an alternate embodiment with a snap onmechanism; and

FIG. 8 is a detail view of an alternate embodiment of cap withperpindicular wall and rim.

For purposes of clarity and brevity, like elements and components willbear the same designations and numbering throughout the Figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

This invention consists of a detachable, molded, round, flexible cap 10that fits snugly over a button. It has a substantially flat front 12, aninwardly turned wall 14 that extends from the outer edge of the front 12and turns under it in such a way that a cavity 16 to hold and encase abutton is formed, and a decorative component 18 that is molded onto orotherwise affixed to the flat front 12.

FIG. 1 is a front 12 view of the detachable button cover. This viewshows the molded, round, flexible cap 10, with a substantially flatfront 12 and the inwardly turned wall 14 that extends around its outeredge and turns under it. The wall 14 may be fabricated in differentwidths and configurations. The cap 10 is fabricated in a flexiblematerial such as rubber, silicone, vinyl, elasticized plastic, or anyother suitable material. It may be fabricated in a variety colors andsizes.

FIG. 2 is a back view of the cap 10. The back of the cap 10 consists ofthe inwardly turned wall 14 that extends from the outer edge of thefront 12 and turns under it in such a way that a hollow cavity 16 isformed. The cavity 16 created has an opening large enough to securelyhold the button to be covered. The opening to the cavity 16 can be ofdifferent sizes.

FIG. 3 is a cross section view of the cap 10 with the inwardly turnedwall 14.

FIG. 4 is a disassembled view of the button cover. In this view thedecorative component 18 is not affixed to the flat front 12.

FIG. 5 is an assembled view of the button cover consisting of thestretchable cap 10 to which the decorative component 18 is moldeddirectly onto the flat front 12 or is otherwise affixed with glue orother suitable material.

FIG. 6 is a view of an alternate configuration of the inwardly turnedwall 14. In this configuration, the unattached edge of the wall 14 has ahorizontal opening 24 and a perpendicular vertical opening 26 cut out.This configuration provides added ease for insertion and removal of abutton.

FIG. 7 is a view of an alternate embodiment of the invention. In thisembodiment the button cover has two separate interlocking parts that areconnected to each other by mechanical means such as a stud 22 and socket20 or other such mechanism; one part being the cap 10 with a socket 20affixed to the flat front 12 and the second part being the decorativecomponent 18 with a stud 22 attached to its underside so that the twoparts interlock when snapped together. In this embodiment the cap 10and/or decorative component 18 may be fabricated in a non-flexiblematerial. The advantage of this embodiment is that the decorativecomponent 18 on a button cover could be easily changed without having topurchase a new button cover, therefore making it more economical. Inaddition, the socket 20 or stud 22 could be fabricated directly on abutton.

FIG. 8 is a view of an alternate embodiment of the cap 10 where the wall14 of the cap 10 is perpendicularly attached to the outer edge of theflat top of the cap 10 and has a rim 28 perpendicularly attached to theexposed edge of the wall 14 as seen in FIG. 8.

To operate the button cover, a user simply inserts the button to becovered under the inwardly turned wall 14 and into the hollow cavity 16on the back side of the button cover. To remove, a user simply pulls thebutton out of the cavity 16 of the button cover.

Other variations of the preferred embodiment are possible. For example:

The button cover can be fabricated in one or more pieces.

The front 12 of the cap 10 can be slightly convex or concave.

The cap 10 can be fabricated in different colors, sizes, and shapes.

The cap 10 can be fabricated from a variety and combination of othersuitable materials.

The cap 10 can be fabricated in non-flexible materials.

The inwardly turned wall 14 of the cap 10 can be fabricated in differentconfigurations. For example the unattached edge of the wall 14 can havea horizontal and/or vertical cut out for added security and ease ofinsertion as in FIG. 6.

Thus, in summary, it can be seen that what is provided in this inventionis a detachable, molded, flexible decorative button cover that is bothfunctional and decorative. The button cover fits snugly over a buttonand is safe and easy for children to use. In addition, while this buttoncover is designed for children, it can easily be used by adults as well.

Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operatingrequirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in theart, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen forpurposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications whichdo not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of thisinvention.

Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected byLetters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims.

1. A button cover comprising: means for covering a button; means forsetting a decorative component onto the cap; means for securing abutton, to said means for setting a decorative component onto the cap;means for encasing a button within the cap; and means for addingdecoration to the button cover.
 2. The button cover in accordance withclaim 1, wherein said means for covering a button comprises astretchable, elastic-like, molded, detachable, cap that accommodatesvariances in button sizes.
 3. The button cover in accordance with claim1, wherein said means for setting a decorative component onto the capcomprises a substantially flat front.
 4. The button cover in accordancewith claim 1, wherein said means for securing a button comprises aninwardly turned wall.
 5. The button cover in accordance with claim 1,wherein said means for encasing a button within the cap comprises ahollow cavity.
 6. The button cover in accordance with claim 1, whereinsaid means for adding decoration to the button cover comprises adecorative component.
 7. A button cover comprising: a stretchable,elastic-like, molded, detachable, cap, for covering a button; asubstantially flat front, for setting a decorative component onto thecap; an inwardly turned wall, for securing a button, to said front; ahollow cavity, for encasing a button within the cap; and a decorativecomponent, for adding decoration to the button cover.
 8. (canceled) 9.(canceled)
 10. (canceled)
 11. (canceled)